The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-19
HULLIGAN'S MURDERERS.
James Robinson. the Last of the Trio, Found
Guilty of Murder in the First Degree.

RAvENNA O., Dec. 18-For the third time
within two months verdict of murder in the
first degree has been rendered in the Criminal
Court of this county. James Robinson, OF
Pittsbure, was found guilty charged in the
Indictment against him. Together with "Blinky"
Morgan and John Coughlin, already convicted,
the prisoner killed detective William 81. Hulli-
gan, of Cleveland, last February. on train in
this place. Roblnson's was given to the
jury on Saturday afternoon. but no verdict was
reached until this afternoon. The court and
officers were hastily summoned, and at o'clock
the fate of Robinson was announced. The
prisoner received the news without any display
of outward emotion, but his two sisters created
a scene by a great demonstration of grief
This is the end of one of the greatest
crimes ever committed IN the Western Reserve.
28th day of January, 1887, the fur store of Ben
edict & Ruedy, on Superior street. Cleveland.
was burglarZed in a remarkably bold manner,
and seelskin cloaks, valued at $1,000, carried
away. It was learned that these furs were
shipped to Pittsbure. and notorious crook.
known as "McMunn the Kid" was arrested in
that city Police Captain Henry Hoehn and de-
tective Hulligan, of the Cleveland force, were
detailed to bring the prisoner from Pitts
burg. They left there on the night OF Feb 3.
taking Cleveland & Pittsbure train. McMunn
and detective Hullgan sat in the same seat
the prisoner being securely shackled to the Of
acer Hoehn sat opposite. facing them
the train reached Ravenna, small
town in Portage county, thirty miles
from Cleveland. Here q stop was made for
few minutes. There were not over half dozen
persons in the with the officers and their
prisoner, and of this number four were rather
shabbily y,dressed men. Two Of them rose and
seats occupied by the officers they halted. Quick
as thought revolvers were flashed out and
thrust under the very noses OF the two astounded
policemen The same instant some one from
behind struck Hulligan fearful blow over the
head with coupling pin. His shrek of agony
reused Hoehn to action. Leaping to his feet
with the outlaws The lights in the were
extinguished and q fusillade OF shots riddled
windows and framework: Unaided Hoehn
could not successfully combat with his four as
sailants, and, wounded he soon sank to the floor,
receiving as he went down blow the head
from the same weapon that had felled Hulligan.
In the meantime McMunn, assisted by an ac-
complice had dragged the helpless form of Hull
ligan out of the car onto the depot platform, the
key was taken from the officers pocket, the
handouts unlocked, and rescuers and rescued
disappeared in the darkness Four days later
Hulligan died, but his murderers had made
good their escape.
could be obtained, but their identity had been
pretty clearly established. "Blinky" Mogan
was the ringeader of the gang, and with HIM
were associated Pat Hanley, Billy Harring-
ton and one other now thought to be James
Coughlin. On the 9th of June Morgan and Two
other men, giving their names as Charles Rob-
inson and James Coughln, were arrested at
Alpena, Mich. 'Blinky" was taken by sur
prise. but made a desperate resistance.
and in the melee Sheriff Lynch, the brave Off
who made the arrest, was shot in the thigh.
He fingered for several weeks, and died at the
hospital in Detroit from blood poisoning in
duced by the wound. Morgan and his two con-
federates were brought to Cleveland, and short
" afterward transferred to the county jail in
Ravenna, where the trial took place, the crime
with which they were charged having been COM
mi:te6 in Portage county.